A month ago the words "vaccine court" conjured up the scary concept that crucial childhood vaccinations could become outlawed due to a large group of activists wrongfully linking them to autism. In London, the tables have turned.
Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a British doctor behind a controversial study linking the common measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) to autism, is now being examined by the British General Medical Council for failure to disclose his links to autism litigators as well as for unethical behavior during his study. In 1998, Wakefield published a paper in the medical journal The Lancet. Media coverage of this alleged link between vaccines and autism scared many parents and resulted in their opting out of crucial vaccinations for their children. The Lancet now admits that this paper should never have been published based on the heavy conflict of interest suggested by Wakefield's ties with autism litigators. In addition to this, the overwhelming majority of the study's authors, ten of thirteen, no longer support the conclusions set forth in the document.
Currently, Wakefield has three accusations against him, all of which he denies. The charges consist of unnecessary procedures performed on children, coordinating with autism litigators, and taking blood from children at a birthday party. It is clear that that this examination of Dr. Wakefield is well deserved. Most importantly, we hope that this raises the eyebrows of those so quick to point a finger at vaccines. Those who have examined the issue without Wakefield's biases -- using good science, with no conflict of interest -- have found no link between MMR vaccination and autism. This has been documented in several publications.
Vaccination rates in Britain have more or less recovered since the dramatic drop that came in response to the now discredited Wakefield paper. However, the rates are not currently high enough to protect the population as a whole, demonstrated by a measles-induced death of a thirteen-year-old in April. This sort of tragedy is senseless in light of the fact that the MMR vaccine is scientifically accepted as one of the safest vaccines available today, while the alleged link between MMR (or any other vaccine) and autism has been thoroughly disproven by multiple studies from several different researchers in different countries.
Krystal Wilson is a research intern at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
See also: "Science Is Not a Democracy" (from the Washington Times)
